Vatican City (AsiaNews) – “A Church as a sign of unity, becoming a leaven for a reconciled world.” A Church that says to the world “with humility and joy”: “look to Christ and His love” and there, find the way to peace in this broken world. This was the vision set out today by Pope Leo XIV during the Mass inaugurating his pontificate. In the solemn liturgy that began at the tomb of St Peter and continued on the steps of the Vatican basilica, Pope Prevost formally received the pallium and the Fisherman’s Ring, symbols of his ministry as Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church.
In his homily – awaited by many as a statement of intent for his pontificate – Leo XIV drew on one of the most famous sayings of St Augustine, the teacher who has shaped his vocation since youth: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you” (Confessions, I, 1.1).
Starting from this fundamental truth of human life, Pope Leo reflected on recent events. Firstly, the death of Pope Francis: “We felt like those crowds in the Gospel who were ‘like sheep without a shepherd’,” he said. Yet he added that, sustained by the memory of Francis’ final blessing on Easter Day, “we faced this moment with the certainty that the Lord never abandons His people.” Then, he spoke of the task given to the cardinals — who had gathered in Rome for the conclave “from different backgrounds and journeys” — to elect “a shepherd capable of preserving the rich heritage of the Christian faith and, at the same time, of looking ahead, to meet today’s questions, anxieties, and challenges.”
“I was chosen without merit,” he said of himself, “and with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother who wants to be a servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you in the love of God, who desires all of us to be united in one family. Love and unity,” he explained, “are the two dimensions of the mission entrusted to Peter by Jesus.”
Reflecting on the dialogue between Jesus and Peter after the Resurrection — as recounted in chapter 21 of John’s Gospel — Pope Leo reminded the faithful that the apostle had personally experienced “the infinite and unconditional love of God, even in the hour of failure and denial.”
That is why he was entrusted with “the task of ‘loving more’ and laying down his life for the flock.” The ministry of Peter, Leo XIV continued, is marked by this self-giving love, because the Church of Rome presides in charity, and its true authority is the love of Christ. “It is never about overpowering others, or religious propaganda, or using the tools of power — it is always and only about loving as Jesus did.”
Peter, he went on, must never give in to “the temptation to be a lone leader or a ruler placed above others, dominating those entrusted to him. On the contrary, he is called to serve the faith of his brothers, walking with them.” As Augustine again said: “The Church is made up of all those who are in harmony with their brothers and who love their neighbour” (Sermon 359, 9).
“This,” the Pope commented, “is what I hope will be our first great desire: a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, becoming leaven for a reconciled world. In our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, fear of those who are different, and by an economic system that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poor. And we want to be, within this dough, a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity.”
“We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: look to Christ! Come closer to Him! Welcome His Word, which enlightens and comforts! Listen to His call to love, to become His one family. In the one Christ, we are one,” he explained, citing his episcopal motto.
“And this is the path we must walk together — among ourselves, but also with our fellow Christian Churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with all those who seek God in their own way, and with all people of goodwill — to build a new world where peace reigns.”
For Pope Leo, this is “the missionary spirit that must animate us — not withdrawing into our own small group, nor feeling superior to the world, but offering God’s love to all, so that unity may be realised — a unity that does not erase differences, but values the personal histories and social and religious cultures of every people.”
He then recalled the words of Pope Leo XIII in Rerum Novarum, the first major social encyclical, whose legacy he has deliberately chosen to honour through his own name: “If this principle were to prevail in the world, would not all strife cease and peace return?” (Rerum Novarum, 21).
“With the light and strength of the Holy Spirit,” Pope Prevost concluded, “let us build a Church founded on God’s love and a sign of unity — a missionary Church, opening its arms to the world, proclaiming the Word, remaining attentive to history, and becoming leaven of harmony for humanity. Together, as one people, as brothers and sisters all, let us walk towards God and love one another.”
